“The Greek arc can produce a large 8.5 Richter earthquake,” says Professor Synolakis

Tragedy without end in Turkey and Syria with the dead exceeding 15,000while fears are expressed of an even more terrifying final reckoning.

In his post, Turkish seismologist Ovgun Ahmet Ercan spoke of 184,000 people under the debris, according to his calculations. “About 6,000 buildings have collapsed. This corresponds to 48,000 apartments in total over 4 floors, 8 apartments (each floor). This corresponds to 192,000 people under the rubble for 4 people (in each compartment). About 8,000 people have been rescued. Some 184,000 (more) people are under the rubble. I’m scared,” he said in his post.

This scenario may be extreme, but it can be confirmed, he told Mega Konstantinos Synolakis, academic professor of Natural Disasters. The professor emphasized that the most victims will be in the cities, as there were high-rise apartment buildings.

He also emphasized that until yesterday, Tuesday, there were areas where the rescuers were unable to reach. Time is counting down for the human souls under the rubble, as 72 hours have already passed and the chances of their rescue are narrowing.

“The ‘window’ is usually up to 72 hours. There may be – and I hope there will be – surprises, if only for one or two human lives, the efforts of the rescuers must continue. But the chances are very small,” he said.

Finally, Mr. Synolakis emphasized that such mega-earthquakes occur every 600 years and he referred to the earthquake in Crete in 365 BC, stressing that the island was raised 10 meters due to the seismic vibration.

“The last major earthquake in Crete occurred in 1403 and it is estimated that such earthquakes occur every 600 to 800 years. We are already at the “window” of the century, when we may see a very large earthquake in the Greek arc of the order of 8.5 Richter”he stated.